BROOKSVILLE — Garland Barton spent his birthday becoming a homeowner.
On June 15, the father of two received the keys to a new house, along with a hammer, a Bible, handmade quilts and the good wishes of a crowd gathered in his driveway.
Barton and his next-door neighbor, Lealer Mason, received keys to adjoining Habitat for Humanity homes in the same ceremony.
Mike Sutton, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside, handed Barton the keys, while state Rep. Jeff Holcomb presented a Bible, board member Bob Morgan gave a hammer and women in the community contributed quilts. In the driveway sat two more gifts: a bicycle for Garland Jr. and a keyboard for Garland III — known to everyone as “G3” — who loves music and uses a wheelchair.
The home was built with G3 in mind. Its large walk-in shower has no ledge to cross and leaves room for him to turn his wheelchair, and he has a bath chair to use there.
Barton, who works for a company that maintains highway rest stops, said he was grateful to everyone who helped him make a home for himself and his sons. He credited his mother, Hattie Barton, for her support.
“I want to thank God for giving me this moment,” he said. “Me and my son, we put in a lot of work.”
Hattie Barton, who lives in Pinellas County and plans to visit often, said the day left her overwhelmed.
“I’m elated,” she said. “There are no words to tell you how you feel. It makes me feel very emotional.”
Garland Barton Jr., 18, is a junior at Lakewood High School in St. Petersburg.
“I think it’s great,” he said. “We got ours.”
A neighbor’s milestone
Next door, Lealer Mason could hardly contain her joy. The Habitat house she had spent hundreds of hours helping to build became hers in the same ceremony.
“This is a joyous occasion today,” she said, thanking God and everyone who had worked alongside her. At times, she said, the obstacles made her want to quit, but the program kept her going with encouragement and classes. She lived with her daughter while the house went up.
“To own my home,” Mason said. “That is a blessing within itself.”
Mason, who works at Tampa General Hospital in Brooksville, will live alone in the three-bedroom home, which has a one-car garage and a full set of appliances. Friends and relatives crowded the porch as she held up her keys.
To qualify, Habitat homeowners must put in hours of work on their own houses and others’, Sutton said. Barton logged 525 — 175 more than required — and Mason 408. Both also completed Habitat’s standard 38 homeowner classes.
The homes come with no down payment, no private mortgage insurance and a 0% interest loan, removing some of the biggest barriers to buying a house, Sutton said.
The two dedications were among 17 that Habitat planned for families across the Tampa Bay region through the end of June.
Photos by VINCENT F. SAFUTO/Hernando Today
HT-HABITAT1-06242026 – The Barton family’s new home.
HT-HABITAT2-06242026 -- Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside CEO Mike Sutton speaks on the porch of the Barton home, with the Barton family to his left and Lealer Mason, in the blue jacket, to his right.
HT-HABITAT3-06242026 – Habitat board member Bob Morgan presents a hammer to Lealer Mason.
HT-HABITAT4-06242026 -- Habitat board member Bob Morgan presents a hammer to Lealer Mason.
HT-HABITAT5-06242026 – State Rep. Jeff Holcomb speaks before presenting Bibles to Garland Barton and Lealer Mason.
HT-HABITAT6-06242026 – Garland Barton talks about his excitement over his new home.
HT-HABITAT7-06242026 – Lealer Mason talks about her excitement over her new home.
HT-HABITAT8-06242026 -- Lealer Mason shows the keys to her new home from its porch.
HT-HABITAT9-06242026 – Garland Barton Sr., from left, Garland Barton III (“G3”) and Garland Barton Jr. stand in the kitchen of their new home.